The Queens Plate Stakes ($1,000.000 Purse)
WO- For Three Year Olds Foaled in Canada
One Mile and One Quarter on the Dirt
August 22, 2021

One of the biggest races of the year in Canada takes place on Sunday in the annual Queens Plate Stakes. It is the 15th time that race has been run, and it can often be counted on to see some of the top three year olds, in general, in the game, since breeding in Ontario is popular here. Last year, the race was won by Anoush Command, for Fractious, who was seen as one of the favorites for the KYD in 2020, and he did go on to have a good set of TC races, even though he never won one. It’s placement in late August this year created the opportunity for TC regulars to make it north if they wanted to pick it over races like the Travers. However, it has not really played out like that as while we still do have a very good field here, our fourteen runners made a combined two triple crown starts. Australia Wide was once a dominant presence in this race, since he loved to breed in Ontario and did not pursue the TC. He won the first four races, with horses such as Meals On Wheels and Rancho Ruler. Mb Stables has one win in the race, but there are other big name trainers whose names are yet to appear on the winnerboard. Maybe they can change that this year. Here’s the field!

#1- Cleon Clone (Crocker Ggs, ridden by J Stein)- On the surface, this seems like ambitious placement for a horse that was a non-factor in the $100.000 Sir Barton Stakes, then finished seventh (losing by seven) in the Grade 3 Cougar Stakes. He works well, and that is likely a big factor for why he gets chances like this. The Queens Plate is such a step up, though, so I couldn’t put any money on him in this race.

#2- Python King (Axeman, ridden by M J Sanchez)- After breaking his maiden for a $91.000 purse at CD, Python King was dropped into a $19.000 claimer right after. Not sure why Mb Stables lost confidence in him, but Axeman was happy he did. He ran in the Plate Trial here at the beginning of the month, and was fourth. The top five finishers from that race all are here, too. This is a big jump for him as well.

#3- Crack Danz (John Henry, ridden by S R Bahen)- Picked up by John Henry in late February for $400.000, and he has yet to see a penny of earnings from him. He’s run in some top notch races for John Henry, including the SA Derby and then the PRK, but he just has not even been close. He was then dropped into an optional claimer for his last start, and ran sixth, beaten by eight lengths on the muddy track. More nomination fees have been paid out for this one, and eventually Crack Danz has to make it up to him and get a good result.

#4- Sunset Killer (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by T Gaffalione)- In his first five races, he picked up three wins, highlighted by winning the $100.000 All American at GG. The result earned him a start in the Grade 1 Haskell at MTH, but that did not go well, with a flat tenth place finish. If he starts better, he might be able to keep an ugly race line like that from happening again, but he has to prove he can competitive against this level.

#5- Lightning (Riggins Racing, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Good to see Riggins back in a race like this. This gelding was picked up in a $19.000 claimer right here in June, a race that he won immediately after breaking his maiden. Former trainer Wood Duck Stables may regret that one, since Lightning followed that up by winning the $75.000 Good Lord Stakes at ELP. Still, like a few others starting to his inside, he’s making a big jump into this race.

#6- Creepy Crawlies (Mb Stables, ridden by S Ryan)- The horse with the largest amount of earnings in the field is also a filly. Fillies winning the real Queens Plate have not been particularly uncommon in the last decade or so, so the winner of the $500.000 WO Oaks would love to do the same. She impressively went wire to wire in that three length win. Did run in the KYO, and was not a factor there. Her weight allowance in this field is five pounds, and I could see her getting it done here.

#7- Charleys Buzz (Patterson Stables, ridden by D Davis)- After being sold in auction once, private sales once, and claimed twice (for a combined $55.030), Patterson Stables has been rewarded for sticking with the horse and seeing what he is capable of. He’s won two of four with Patterson, including each of his last two, each of which are optional claimers. Though he was seen in the SUN Derby once, this is a jump for him as well.

#8- Freddo Cappuccino (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by A Cedillo)- Not an easy set of past performances to look at, and it has nothing to do with how the horse has raced. With three races, and four times being sold, you just hope that he has finally found a trainer who actually wants him. Mo Mentum Farm probably does, given he paid $400.000 for him last month. This will be their first race, of hopefully many, together. Makes a huge jump forward here.

#9- Crack Stone (Mb Stables, ridden by D Moran)- Picked up by the trainer back in November for $300.000, and has not been higher than third while running in the Mb Stables silks in his six races. He’s been a regular at WO of late, including taking part in the Plate Trial last month, which was one of those third place runs. Hasn’t run poorly, and has more experience at this level than others, but still not one I could put on top. First four? Maybe.

#10- Turbocharged (John Henry, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- This gelding has two wins in ten career starts, each coming with former trainer Aer Stables. He sold him off in March for $250.000, and he has not been on the track much for John Henry. His performances might have a lot to do with it, being beaten by five lengths in each of them. Something has happened since early July to get the trainer confident to run him here, but he’s a tough one to pick.

#11- Rotarian (Mb Stables, ridden by G Saez)- The third entry from Mb Stables was running in graded stakes before he even broke his maiden, making three TC starts before he did so. Eventually, he had to settle for doing that the conventional way, and did it fittingly at CD in early May. He won the Queenston right after that, and comes off a third place result in the Grade 2 Amsterdam. Very capable, but his starts going longer are not the highlights of his resume.

#12- Hint Of Sugar (Arindel, ridden by E Jaramillo)- Up to this point, Hint Of Sugar only has his maiden win, but he finished second a total of six times. He did this against top level company in each of the Fountain Of Youth and FL Derby, enabling him to participate in the KYD. That didn’t go well, and things have been downhill since that point. He ran here earlier this month in the Plate Trial, and ran fifth but was beaten seven lengths. If he can find his form from earlier this year, he can contend. Really needs a momentum shift.

#13- Cherokee Grey (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by D Fukumoto)- Like Hint Of Sugar in that he only has his maiden win to speak of. For him, that is out of nine races. He has spent half of his career running here against Canadians, and two of them were in stakes. He was fourth in May for the Queenston, but then had a real good race in the Plate Trial in his last start, where he was second. Some of his best starts have come on off tracks and while there is a smaller chance of one, that is unlikely here.

#14- Rockin Rodeo (Nakamura Stables, ridden by V R Carrasco)- Acquired in private sales in May from Patterson Stables for $165.000, Nakamura Stables took his time to get acquainted with Rockin Rodeo to send him out there. He would debut in the Plate Trial here at the start of August, and ended up winning the race. His reward for that is to start on the far outside after being on the rail in the Trial. Has some excellent works recently, and really seems to be a horse on the rise. I think he’s going to pull this off as well.

Prediction: 14-6-5-13

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded